Ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann Under Fire for Threatening Scott Jennings on X

Former ESPN anchor Keith Olbermann posted a thinly veiled threat toward CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings in a volatile exchange on social media, as ABC announced the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel following his controversial monologue about Charlie Kirk. Jennings had commented on ABC's decision to bring Kimmel back, writing: "So basically his employer suspended him for being an insensitive p****, and we don't live in an authoritarian regime? Got it." Olbermann replied with a warning: "You're next mother******." The exchange drew attention as screenshots circulated publicly and were shared by observers across political circles.

During the online exchange, Dustin Grage, a Townhall columnist, shared a screenshot of the deleted post, and Jennings retweeted it, tagging FBI Director Kash Patel in the process and escalating the confrontation. Olbermann followed up with another jab: "But keep mugging to camera, amateur."

A third exchange saw Olbermann write: "Now we get the fascists off real tv. That'd mean your career is next, Jennings. Send a tape to Real America's Voice But keep mugging to camera, amateur." The posts are part of a flare-up linked to broader disputes over late-night programming and media ownership.

Observers note that the episode came as Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major ABC affiliate owner, pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from some of its stations in protest of Kimmel's comments. Olbermann had previously criticized Sinclair in a separate post, telling them to burn in hell alongside Charlie Kirk. That post was later deleted, but screenshots circulated widely among conservative outlets and watchdogs. Critics say Olbermann’s rhetoric has escalated beyond straightforward political commentary and into dehumanizing territory, at a moment of heightened political tensions and media scrutiny.

ABC confirmed that Kimmel would be back on the air on Tuesday, following discussions reportedly involving Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden. He is expected to address the controversy on his show, though it remained unclear whether he would offer a formal apology. Affiliate owners including Sinclair have indicated they will continue preempting Kimmel in some markets, replacing the show with news programming instead.

Analysts say the episode underscores a broader trend in which prominent media figures use social platforms to push provocative, sometimes incendiary messages. While some defend pointed political critique as essential to democratic discourse, others warn that personal threats and dehumanizing language risk normalizing violence and intimidation in political debate. The incident adds another chapter to the ongoing scrutiny of media personalities' conduct online and the fragile line between commentary and threats in the current media environment.

Olbermann, who rose to prominence on ESPN’s SportsCenter and later hosted programming on MSNBC, has long been a focal point of controversial online expressions. Monday’s flare-up, however, marks a new threshold in the intensity of his public posts and the rapid spread of screenshots and reaction across conservative and liberal outlets alike.